Give me an underground laboratory, half a dozen atom-smashers, and a beautiful girl in a diaphanous veil waiting to be turned into a chimpanzee, and I care NOT who writes this nation’s laws. ... S.J. Perelman

*rustling of paper is heard from one of the tables. Elliot is studying several well-loved maps*

Hey, check this out.... Oslo, Berlin, Prague and Vienna are all pretty much at the same longitude, on a north-south line. That means I will be relatively close to Misa Blue if I visit Norway ("the old country"). I'll be pretty much stuck in Norway on this trip, but it's something to keep in mind. In spite of living in Norway for 25 years, I never traveled south of Denmark. (Like a good Viking, I traveled west instead, and settled in Vinland.)

Ah yes... maybe I forgot to mention.... I may take three weeks in Norway around April. I'm overdue to visit my Mom, and I want to "play" in my brother's zoo. The zoo opens for the season on May 1, and there will be plenty of work needed to get the place spruced up after winter. Nothing final yet, though.

Oh.... Here's a bit of Fabulous Folly: My brother wants me to bring one of those fountains that looks like a giant faucet suspended in mid-air, with water coming out of it. (There is a clear glass pipe in the middle of the water-stream, supporting the faucet and bringing the water up.) I've seen one in San Francisco, in the tourist district around the piers maybe. He wants to put it in the zoo duck pond. Which means that if I bring one, I know what my job will be while there -- installing it! I need one I can stuff in a duffel bag and call it luggage. So I'll be on the interweb a bit today.

so, I was asked to help the Jewish historic cemetery people with an issue, at the local cemetery of theirs, I had done work on:It seems several of the "crack head" neighbors, have taken it upon themselves, to use the cemetery property, not only as a "more convenient for them" driveway (they have their own, but it's longer), but as an easy place to throw garbage, trash and brush.When asked to stop, they cussed and were totally disrespectful to the older folks on the committee, who obviously could not counter this verbal abuse.I was asked to come up with them and help find a remedy:when I was there with these folks ( in their late 70's kind, and polite to this ass) this neighbor called us all "fuck heads" and said "you'll not block me, from going anywhere I want"..............well, with so many witnesses there, I just remained silent.The folks were very upset, saying he has also threatened them with his pit bull dogs and masked friends to intimidate.I said, "trust me, I'll block the drive, and happy to help" They asked "what will you do"?and I replied:"don't worry, I'll stop this, and no one will get hurt, unless those folks really beg"They are very concerned these crack heads will hurt someone, either themselves or by sicking their dogs on them.

I called a friend with two dumptrucks, and we loaded 3500 lb. blocks of concrete, 5 on each, and went there at 7 am.in 10 mins, we dumped in a grid, these 10 blocks.

"yeah, crack head, you're right, no on will block your drive"...........and no one got hurt!!

I sent these pics to the cemetery folks:

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so, I was asked to help the Jewish historic cemetery people with an issue, at the local cemetery of theirs, I had done work on:It seems several of the "crack head" neighbors, have taken it upon themselves, to use the cemetery property, not only as a "more convenient for them" driveway (they have their own, but it's longer), but as an easy place to throw garbage, trash and brush.When asked to stop, they cussed and were totally disrespectful to the older folks on the committee, who obviously could not counter this verbal abuse.I was asked to come up with them and help find a remedy:when I was there with these folks ( in their late 70's kind, and polite to this ass) this neighbor called us all "fuck heads" and said "you'll not block me, from going anywhere I want"..............well, with so many witnesses there, I just remained silent.The folks were very upset, saying he has also threatened them with his pit bull dogs and masked friends to intimidate.I said, "trust me, I'll block the drive, and happy to help" They asked "what will you do"?and I replied:"don't worry, I'll stop this, and no one will get hurt, unless those folks really beg"They are very concerned these crack heads will hurt someone, either themselves or by sicking their dogs on them.

I called a friend with two dumptrucks, and we loaded 3500 lb. blocks of concrete, 5 on each, and went there at 7 am.in 10 mins, we dumped in a grid, these 10 blocks.

"yeah, crack head, you're right, no on will block your drive"...........and no one got hurt!!

I sent these pics to the cemetery folks:

Ya know... a few caltrops in the "long" driveway might be appropriate too. But well done ygmir.

The only thing crack-heads fear is WORK! And ya gave them some. hehehehehhe

Give me an underground laboratory, half a dozen atom-smashers, and a beautiful girl in a diaphanous veil waiting to be turned into a chimpanzee, and I care NOT who writes this nation’s laws. ... S.J. Perelman

Yep! Howdy as well to Jella! ygmir, the quiet can do, no argument required, problem solver. Good work. Riding into town in a dump truck and helping the townsfolk.A nice chaise and cool cloth for sun befuddled eyes for mdf.

Elliot wrote::D Here is the sort of thing my brother wants for his zoo. The world is (relatively) full of them, but how to find a manufacturer? Of course, I could build one, but it would take a ton of time.

Elliot wrote::D Here is the sort of thing my brother wants for his zoo. The world is (relatively) full of them, but how to find a manufacturer? Of course, I could build one, but it would take a ton of time.

Might be cheapest to fab it up on the spot. I'd wager a couple bucks' of PVC and some good quality chrome/brass/copper or whatever color you desire that'll stick to plastic (like that Krylon Fusion stuff) could be had almost anywhere in Norway. Just need to source the acrylic stand pipe. Bondo or equivalent for sculpting and some basic tools like a surform and hacksaw and it should be possible. Maybe make one here and then either ship it or take blueprints.

I have discovered the ultimate question to life the universe and everything. "Does it burn?"

Elliot wrote::D I've been thinking of building a house out of such blocks. Seriously. Those look to be the proper interlocking kind.

You'd certainly be the King of Thermal Mass.

Jar Jar Sith Lord.Odd. No bears in the dump. Oh well, lets go across the road & pick blueberries..... but don't harm the red dragon that frequents the area from time to time. He and I have an agreement.

You'd have to plumb it so anyone could easily drain it for the winter; easy to do, but it has to be done.As you wouldn't be there to baby it, I'd think a steel up-pipe, painted white, would be more robust for the force, vibration and thermal cycling it will be subjected to year after year.

Jar Jar Sith Lord.Odd. No bears in the dump. Oh well, lets go across the road & pick blueberries..... but don't harm the red dragon that frequents the area from time to time. He and I have an agreement.